Former NBA star Kendrick Perkins has made a robust comparability as one Golden State Warriors star faces getting frozen out.
Steve Kerr will likely be remembered as one of many nice NBA coaches for his feats with the Golden State Warriors.
And in summer season 2024, he added to his legacy by main Group USA to win the gold medals on the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Stephen Curry was key to his wins in each, though on the Olympics, it was Kerr’s omission of Jayson Tatum that was a continuing storyline throughout their gold medal run.
Kerr claimed he didn’t take pleasure in not deciding on Tatum, however had no regrets that Group USA had been in the end profitable with the choices he made.
Now one in every of his present choices has been in comparison with his opinion-splitting option to overlook Tatum when it mattered.
Steve Kerr selected to not play Jonathan Kuminga in opposition to the LA Clippers, and after the Warriors misplaced, he was anticipated to recall the star.
Then when the Warriors confronted the Memphis Grizzlies in one other must-win recreation, this time within the Play-In Match, Jonathan Kuminga was a DNP once more.
The choice has turn out to be an actual speaking level, and on Sportscenter after the sport, Kendrick Perkins known as for Kerr to place his delight apart and recall Kuminga.
Talking on the Highway Trippin’ podcast, Perkins in contrast the scenario to the Jayson Tatum state of affairs on the Olympics.
He blasted: “I simply don’t get it. It’s the identical s___ Steve Kerr pulled with Jayson Tatum, to a lesser diploma.
“You go to a man that you simply drafted within the lottery, and inform him ‘your not going to be taking part in’.
“You may want him, Draymond stated it yesterday ‘we’re going to want Kuminga on this sequence’.”
He added that it won’t be straightforward for Kuminga to return at high type, however will likely be impressed with him if he does, and re-affirms his perception the Warriors will want him within the playoffs.
“Now your asking him to activate the swap, and if he do activate the swap, kudos to him.
“If Jonathan Kuminga doesn’t play on this Rockets sequence, the Rockets are going to beat Golden State.”
Former star Channing Frye supplied his view, believing Jonathan Kuminga is just not suited to Kerr’s basketball philosophy: “Jonathan Kuminga is an efficient participant, he’s simply not a participant who matches into that system, and that’s a truth.”
However he did push again on the comparability to the Boston Celtics celebrity: “I wouldn’t evaluate the Jayson Tatum scenario to this one.”
Perkins added that he feels regardless, Kuminga is a participant who must be taking part in for the Warriors within the playoffs.
“I imagine you may get much more out of Jonathan Kuminga. I imagine he’s a worth and never a legal responsibility.”
